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Leading a team overflowing with star power, but still outside the top six and with one of the worst defences in the league, it’s getting close to make or break for the Sky Blues’ season.

A celebrated striker in his day, Farina showed plenty of nerve taking over from want-away coach Ian Crook in November.

Three years after he was dumped by Brisbane Roar, the former Socceroos coach has strapped himself into the hot seat of an outfit known for its itchy trigger finger.

Now at the pointy-end of the campaign au.fourfourtwo.com asked Farina about the run-in to the finals, his squad plans for next year and what he learned during his time in A-League exile. 

Four games to go and just outside the top six – enjoying the pressure?
I don’t mind pressure let’s put it that way. That’s part of the game we’re involved in particularly coaching at this level. We’d like to be in a better position but the reality is that’s where we sit at the moment and if we’re good enough we’ll make the six. It will be interesting to see how the players respond. We’re in a reasonable position but still have a lot of work to do.

You’ve got a wealth of big game players for the final onslaught – Juve great Alessandro Del Piero, Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill, Brett Emerton and Joel Griffiths.
They’re obviously seasoned pros and more than likely have been in similar situations with pressure like this. You need old heads in the team who have been there and done that. Those players are very important in terms of keeping everyone focused on what we want to achieve.

Sydney play three of the top four sides in the run-in to the finals – Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers. Are you worried you won’t have anything left for the finals?
That’s always a possibility, but you know, let’s get there first. We’ll be very happy to get in (the finals) and then it’s a new competition. If you make the finals anything can happen. If you can play three to four weeks of good football you can win it. The really important thing for us the moment is to try and get in and after that we’ll re-focus on what we want to achieve.

Your first defeat as Sydney FC coach was in the derby. You face the Wanderers again in the penultimate game of the regular season. Their inaugural season’s been a blinder.  Does it feel like a battle for the hearts and minds of Sydney?
No – Sydney’s a big city and the western suburbs are very rich in terms of football history and culture. It’s definitely a city that’s big enough for both clubs. It’s taken a long time to get two teams like they have in Melbourne. They’ve done extremely well and are in a fantastic position – they deserve all the publicity they get.

So who’s more lovable – you or Poppa?
That’s an easy one, it’s got to be me. But if you ask Western Sydney fans they’ll say him.

Is every game treated as a must-win?
It sounds like an old cliché but that’s the reality – every game is super important for us now whether it’s away, or Central Coast and Melbourne Victory at home. 

You’ve already signed some promising young players for next season and locked in ADP for another year, can fans expect a major overhaul of the squad?
Unfortunately in the first year it’s going to be difficult to see a major overhaul. We’re probably in a position where we can find four players for next year. The reality is, with the salary cap, how it works and the squad we’ve got, we’ll probably be able to run with 23 players next year. So realistically we’re looking at four key positions and we’ve got to find the right players to fit in there.

What positions are you targeting?
Well obviously central defence. We were most probably a little bit light going into this season. In signing Tiago (Calvano) and Lucas (Neill) recently that’s strengthened that area but they’re both off contract next year and we don’t know whether they’re going to be staying or going. That’s an area that we’ve certainly got to strengthen and one midfield position and one attacking option as well.

Are you negotiating with Lucas to extend his stay?
At this stage no we haven’t discussed things. When Lucas came it was a short-term deal. We’re just focussing on the job at hand which is all we can do at the moment.

There’s some talk of skipper Terry McFlynn signing another contract.
Since I’ve been here Terry has been fantastic. He’s only 31 and that’s not old in terms of football but as I said we’re still focusing really on the end of this season. We can’t start getting into too much contractual negotiations with such an important period coming up for us.

Has he still got something to offer the Sky Blues?
Definitely. He’s done everything I’ve asked of him and more. He’s a great club man on the field and off the field. He’s been here since day one and I think you’ve got to have loyalty in football and in clubs. He’s been extremely loyal to the club and I still think he has something to offer.

What was that period after leaving Brisbane Roar like for you?
I was quite busy. The situation with Roar, legally, was a bit of a strain and that went on for 12 months but in terms of football I was involved in teams up in Papua New Guinea and obviously working with Oceania. I followed the A-League closely but was busy travelling around Oceania which was quite interesting.

You’ve just signed a two-year contract with Sydney. Did you think you’d get another shot at the A-League after what happened at Roar?
You never say never. But there are really only nine jobs in this country. New Zealand most probably will always have one of their own. So nine jobs – they don’t come around very often. And look I never really gave it too much thought to be honest. This opportunity came up out of the blue and I’d only just re-signed a year contract with Oceania. I was three weeks in and this opportunity came up.

What changes have you noticed in the A-League since you were last involved with Roar in 2009?
I think the standard in the A-League has improved, not immensely, but it has improved. I think fitness levels are higher and the speed and pace of the game due to those rising fitness levels has changed. Football is a simple game really, it’s us that makes it difficult most of the time.  I think in terms of facilities Brisbane and Sydney are very different. Initially in Brisbane we had fantastic facilities and then we had to move to the Reds training headquarters at Ballymore. And Sydney have got a fantastic facility. I’d say one of the best if not the best in the league.

What did you learn from your time in Papua New Guinea?
I think in a word – humility. It’s a humbling experience to go up there and see the conditions that they have there and the passion the players have for the game. You realise how spoilt we are in this country and how we take things for granted. Not just in life but in football in particular. You’ve got players up there playing for the national team who live in places where there’s no electricity, no running water and they come to training every day with a smile on their face. It was a great experience and a pleasure to have worked up there.

A source of future A-League players or far too early?
I wouldn’t say they have a long way to go. There are potentially players who could be in A-League squads. I’m not saying they’d walk into the first XI but they could be in an A-League squad without any shadow of a doubt. But visa issues are a major problem because as things stand they’d be regarded as a visa player in Australia.

You’ve coached the Socceroos, A-League clubs, been inducted into the FFA Hall of Champions and picked up the PFA Alex Tobin Medal. Do you have anything left to prove?
Always. The day you think you know everything is the day to give it up and I certainly don’t think I know everything. You’ve always got to remain humble because you never stop learning. And I think that’s the same with achievements. Success in football is fleeting. There’s probably more downs than there are ups in the game. There’s always another challenge out there to win things and do well.

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